On her trek to the frozen North, Lyra gathers a band of unique allies:
: A witch queen whose clan aids Lyra in battle. The Dark Secret
: An exiled armored bear ( panserbjørn ) whom Lyra helps regain his dignity and throne. The Golden Compass
Devastated by the loss of her friend but determined to find the source of Dust and stop the Magisterium, Lyra and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, walk through the portal into an unknown universe.
Before Lyra is taken into the care of the glamorous but cold , the Master of Jordan College gives her an alethiometer —a golden, truth-telling compass that only she can learn to read. After discovering that Mrs. Coulter leads the Gobblers, Lyra escapes and joins forces with the Gyptians , a group of water-travelers whose children have also been stolen. On her trek to the frozen North, Lyra
Lyra’s life at Jordan College changes when she overhears her uncle, , discussing "Dust"—mysterious particles that settle on adults but not children. Around the same time, children across England, including Lyra’s best friend Roger , begin disappearing, kidnapped by a group known as the "Gobblers". The Journey North
Lyra reaches the research station at , where she discovers the horrific truth: the Gobblers are performing "intercision," a process that surgically severs children from their dæmons to prevent them from being "tainted" by Dust. Lyra leads a daring escape, freeing Roger and the other children. The Climax and Betrayal Before Lyra is taken into the care of
: A Texan aeronaut who provides transport in his hot-air balloon.